Match 61
Green Point Stadium - Cape Town
Uruguay 2 – 3 Netherlands
Place watched: Tape delay – Living room, Olathe, KS
Both today’s match and the semifinal tomorrow pit a multiple-time World Cup champion versus a traditionally underachieving nation. In this contest, Uruguay have won 2 previous World Cups (1930 and 1950) both times as an underdog. Holland had arguably the best side in both the 1974 and 1978 Cups, but came up one match short in each. The Charrúas once again are not expected to go through; but since they were not supposed to get out of their group, per the pundits, they don’t mind.
Both sides were settling into the match when suddenly Holland struck from distance. Giovanni van Bronckhorst shot from close to 40 yards out finding the upper 90 just inside the far post. Not to be outdone, Diego Forlan equalized just before the half with a 30 yarder.
In the 70th minute, Holland scored via a deflected Wesley Sneijder shot. Robin van Persie appeared to be in an offside position when he flung his foot at the ball, but offside was not called. Just a couple minutes later, Arjen Robben scored on a header to put the game out of reach. A two-goal lead will surely be insurmountable.
Uruguay did not believe that.
In the second minute of stoppage time, their sustained pressure paid off when they scored on a corner kick. Unfortunately it would be their last goal of the Cup. A handful of chances, and 2 extra minutes of added time made things interesting but did not produce an equalizer. Holland were through!
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